Family pressure
1633 Words
Chapter 3
The door opened again, and Adrian’s assistant stepped in.
“Mrs. Cole, are you feeling better?”
She nodded faintly. “Where’s Adrian?”
The assistant shifted slightly. “He received an important call and had to step out.”
“Important call?” she repeated quietly.
“Yes. He went to pick up Miss Anna from the airport.”
Aria froze.
“…Anna?”
“His childhood friend. She just returned from overseas.”
The words felt like ice sliding down her spine.
He left.
He left her in a hospital bed.
To pick up another woman.
For a few seconds, she couldn’t even breathe properly.
Her mind replayed the moment he handed her the termination papers.
The coldness in his voice.
The distance in his eyes.
Now this.
Was Adrian truly this heartless?
Had she imagined everything?
All those glances. All those moments.
Had she mistaken familiarity for affection?
Her grip tightened on the report in her hand.
She finally understood.
She had never meant anything beyond convenience.
He cared about Anna.
The childhood friend.
The woman who had probably always belonged in his world.
Not her.
Not the orphan girl from a broken past.
A deep ache spread through her chest.
This hurt more than the contract.
More than the distance.
More than the silence.
He didn’t even stay.
Tears slid quietly down her temples as she stared at the ceiling.
she had flash backs on how she got to be with this heartless man
***Flash backs***
On that Monday morning
Aria Bennett adjusted the collar of her blouse for the third time that morning.
Today was not a day for mistakes.
Her heels clicked nervously against the tiled floor of her small apartment as she checked her reflection. First day as an intern at Cole's Jewelry Designer Company - the most prestigious luxury jewelry brand in New York.
Award-winning. Internationally recognized. Ruthlessly managed.
And owned by the infamous CEO, Adrian Cole.
Rumors about him were everywhere.
Cold. Untouchable. Brutally strict.
They said he once fired a senior manager for arriving seven minutes late to a board meeting. Another story claimed he dismissed a designer because a diamond setting was two millimeters off.
Perfection wasn't requested in his company.
It was demanded.
Aria grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.
"I cannot be late," she muttered under her breath while checking the time on her phone. "Not today."
Traffic felt slower than usual. Every red light mocked her. By the time she reached the towering glass building of Cole's Jewelry, her heart was racing.
The building was breathtaking.
Polished marble floors. Crystal chandeliers. Walls decorated with framed magazine covers featuring their award-winning collections. Everything screamed luxury.
Aria inhaled deeply.
This was her chance.
She stepped inside, nerves tightening in her stomach as she walked toward the elevator lobby. Employees stood neatly in place, some whispering in low tones.
The clock above the reception desk read 8:57 AM.
Three minutes to nine.
Panic rose.
Without thinking, Aria hurried forward and stepped into the first elevator that opened.
The doors slid shut behind her.
Silence.
Strange silence.
She noticed the air inside felt... different. Colder. Heavier.
The elevator was empty except for her.
The walls were darker than the others she had briefly seen. The floor gleamed like polished obsidian. Even the buttons looked more refined.
She pressed the button for the internship department floor and exhaled in relief.
Just as the doors were about to close completely-
A hand stopped them.
The doors slid open again.
And the temperature seemed to drop.
He stepped in.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Impeccably dressed in a charcoal-gray suit that looked custom-made. His presence alone filled the small space.
Aria froze.
She didn't need anyone to tell her who he was.
Adrian Cole.
His sharp jawline was tense. Dark hair perfectly styled. A luxury watch rested against his wrist as he adjusted his cufflink.
His eyes-cold, unreadable-shifted toward her.
For a brief second.
Just a second.
But it felt like he had scanned every flaw she had.
The elevator doors closed.
Aria's heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Why was no one else inside?
Why had the lobby gone so quiet?
Then she noticed it.
A small silver plaque near the control panel.
PRIVATE - CEO ACCESS ONLY.
Her stomach dropped.
Oh no.
She had stepped into the CEO's private elevator.
She had heard about it during orientation emails but had completely forgotten in her rush.
Employees were never allowed inside.
Ever.
The elevator moved smoothly upward.
No one spoke.
She could feel his presence behind her - controlled, powerful, intimidating. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air. Clean. Expensive.
Her palms grew damp.
Should she apologize?
Should she explain?
Before she could decide, his voice cut through the silence.
Low.
Calm.
Dangerously composed.
"You're new."
It wasn't a question.
Aria swallowed. "Y-Yes, sir. Today is my first day. I'm an intern."
The elevator continued rising.
His reflection in the mirrored wall showed no emotion.
"Did no one inform you," he continued evenly, "that this elevator is restricted?"
Her throat tightened.
"I-I was rushing. I didn't realize-"
The elevator stopped.
The doors slid open to the executive floor.
No one was there waiting.
No assistants.
No managers.
Just silence.
Adrian stepped forward first.
Then paused.
Without looking at her, he spoke again.
"Step out."
Aria hesitated before walking out behind him.
The executive floor was even more luxurious. Glass walls. Private offices. Soft lighting.
She felt painfully out of place.
Finally, he turned to face her fully.
Up close, he was even more intimidating.
"Name."
"Aria Bennett."
His eyes held hers.
Cold. Assessing.
"Miss Bennett.," he said smoothly, "in this company, mistakes have consequences."
Her heartbeat stopped.
"And I do not tolerate them."
Aria felt the weight of his words press down on her chest.
Was she about to lose her job...
On her first day?
Adrian's gaze darkened slightly.
"Since you seem unaware of the rules," he said calmly, "I suppose I'll have to decide what to do with you personally."
Her breath caught.
The director led Aria Bennett to a small desk near the design department.
“This will be your workstation,” he said briefly before walking away.
Aria sat down slowly, placing her bag underneath the desk. Around her, designers sketched carefully, assistants moved with purpose, and the soft clinking of gemstones echoed faintly in the background.
This was her chance.
If she didn’t secure this job, she had nothing.
She wasn’t from a wealthy family. There were no connections, no safety net waiting for her. Just bills. Rent. Responsibility.
And her younger sister.
Still in college. Still depending on her.
Aria swallowed the lump forming in her throat and turned on the computer in front of her.
“I got this " she whispered to herself.
She had barely settled into reviewing some introductory files when the atmosphere around the department suddenly shifted.
Heels clicked sharply against the polished floor.
The CEO’s personal secretary stood at the entrance.
Elegant. Composed. Feared almost as much as her boss.
Her eyes scanned the room before settling on Aria.
“Miss Bennett.”
The entire department seemed to freeze.
Aria slowly stood up.
“Yes?”
“The CEO demands your presence immediately. His office.”
A pin could have dropped in that moment.
Whispers spread instantly.
“What did she do?”
“On her first day?”
“Is she already fired?”
“I told you she entered the wrong elevator this morning…”
Aria felt every stare pierce through her back as she stepped away from her desk.
Her legs felt heavier with each step toward the executive floor.
Her mind raced.
Is he about to fire me?
Did he already decide?
She barely remembered walking down the hallway. The secretary knocked once before opening the large office doors.
“Miss Collins, sir.”
Adrian Cole stood near the window, overlooking the city.
His back was straight. Hands behind him. Suit perfectly fitted. Controlled.
He turned slowly.
His eyes met hers.
No warmth.
No compassion.
Nothing but cold calculation.
Aria’s stomach tightened.
Only God knew what was going on in his mind.
“Close the door,” he instructed calmly.
She obeyed.
The silence inside his office was suffocating.
Is he about to fire me? she asked herself again as fear gripped her chest.
Before he could speak, his phone rang.
The sharp sound cut through the tension.
He glanced at the screen.
And frowned.
Something in his expression changed — not softer, just darker.
He answered.
“Yes.”
A loud, older male voice echoed faintly from the receiver.
“Come home now, you little brat.”
Aria stiffened.
The insult was sharp. Personal.
Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly.
He ended the call without another word.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
He looked toward his assistant, who had remained quietly near the door.
“Dismiss her,” he said flatly.
Aria felt her temperature drop instantly.
Her ears rang.
Dismiss her.
That was it.
Her chest tightened painfully.
But before the assistant could respond, Adrian added, almost absently:
“Take corrections.”
The words were brief. Controlled. Final.
He picked up a file from his desk and walked past her without sparing another glance.
His shoulder brushed slightly against hers as he passed.
Cold. Distant. Unreadable.
Aria stood frozen for a second before realizing she had just been spared.
Not fired.
Corrected.
Given a warning.
Relief washed over her so quickly it almost made her dizzy.
“Thank you, sir,” she said softly as he walked out of the office.
He didn’t respond.
The door shut behind him.
And Aria was left standing there, heart still racing.
She had survived day one.
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